Rod-switching mechanism.



C. W. HAWTHORNE.

ROD SWITCHING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I0. |915.

1,291,868. Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l:

C. W. HAWTHORNE.

ROD SWITCHING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I0. I9I5.

1,291,868. Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

o) Q0 No@ @o Ig.. P

I VENTO/ I.' i I B! C. W. HAWTHORNE.

Ron swlcHlNG MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10, 1915. 1,291,868. Patented 1311.211919.

3 SHEETS-SHEE 3.

CGILER- O WITNESSES: BP @Cy-MV ,fi 97M MFM-1 AT ORNEY En sTATES P CHARLES W. HAWTHORNE, OF HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGN OR TO MORGAN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS. l non-SWITCHING MECHANISM.

n 1,291,868. specification of Letters Patent. Patented, Jan, 21, 1919,y

Application led September 10, 1915. Serial No. 49,949.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. HAW- THORNE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, have invented new and useful Improvements 1n Rod-Switching Mechanisms, of whlch the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an automatlc switch for rod or wire reels or coilers for use in connection with rod and wire rollmg mills, and in certain of its featuresthe .1nvention relates also to means for directlng the flow of cooling water in conformlty to the switching of the hot rods or wires from one reel or coiler to another. Further features, objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth hereinafter in part, and in part will be obvious herefrom. v

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described. A

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles thereof. t

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation, with front of frame removed and with parts in section, of a machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan generally corresponding to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan of the water circulating system shown in the other views; and

Fig. 4 is a general plan.

Referring by way of example to the accompanying drawings, means are provided whereby a plurality of rod or wire reeling or coiling devices are supplied from a single source of supply, such as the last standof mill rolls, the successive lengths of rod or wire being alternately switched or directed to the different reels or coilers.

In such embodied form, the rods are run in from the rolls through suitable guiding or supplying means, such as the pipe guide 1. The guide l communicates with a guiding switch or directing device 2, which is shown of tubular form, the rear portion thereof being of substantially the same bore as the pipeJ 1, the tube 2 being contracted in advance of said portion and then being enlarged and having its outlet 3 again contracted. The switch 2 is mounted to swing pivotally about a bearing 4 at or near the rear or recelving end thereof. Said bearing 4 1s supported to swing upon pointed supporting screw-bolts 5 and 6, which are threaded, respectively, into the frame members 7 and 8.

In accordance with one feature of the in.

vention, the switch or directing means 2 is actuated and controlled by gravity and in the embodied form this is effected by water flow, said means being actuated and controlled in conjunction and in harmony with the cooling water for the rods and coilers. In the embodied form of switch-actuating and controlling means, the switch 2 is pivotally connected at 10 with an arm 1l eX- tending upwardlyv from the pivotal bearing 12 of a lever 13. At each end thereof there 1s suspended from the lever 13 two pails or tanks 14 and 15 provided respectively with discharge openings 16 in their bottoms.

The switch 2 is moved about its pivotal bearing 4 to direct the rods running in from the mill into either of the two pipe guideways 20 or 21, one of said guideways going to .one reel or coiler and the other of said guldeways going to another reel or coiler (see especially Fig. 2). The forward end of the switch 2 swings alternately into alinement with either the guideway 2O or the guideway 2l within the flaring and enlarged end 22, common to both guideways.

The automatic switch actuating and controlling mechanism is governed by the rods running through the machine, and in accordance with certain features of the invention, said means includes a rotating member frictlonally engaged by the running rod, said rotating member controlling the gravity switch-actuating means. As heretofore ind1cated, said rotating member is employed llkewise for controlling the How of the cooling water upon a running rod and its reel or coller, a portion of the water being used as gravlty means for controlling and actuating the switch. In certain aspects of the invention, it will be understood, certainv of these means or devices may be used without the others.

Referring in detail to the illustrated embodiment, a wheel 23 having in its periphery a groove 24 is loosely mounted on a shaft 26 and is supported to rotate freely upon a collar 25 fixed to theshaft 26. To this end la op engageable with a split sprlng collar 35,

ball race 27 is provided by the opposing sur` faces of wheel 23 and collar 25,'for the reception of anti-friction bally bearings, as shown. The wheel 23 has integral therewith an upwardly extending hub or portion 28,.

upon which is mounted a means for clutching or engaging the shaft 26, so that said shaft may be caused to turn with the wheel -l 23, when said wheel is rotated by frictional engagement'with the running rod.

The embodied form of such clutching or engaging means comprises a vmomentum Lacasse which is in` vertical alinement with the pail 52.

Fixed intermediately upon shaft 26 is an arm or lever'62, said arm'having at either end thereof valves or delectors.63 and 64, respectively. Thev valve 63 passes alternatelyinto and out of alinement with the pipes 55 and 56, thus prevent-ing or permittin the flow of water into the pail 51. Likewise the deflector 64 passes into and out of alinement with the pipes 59 and 60, thereby preventingor permitting the fio-w Vof waterinto the pail 52. Carried by the device including two angled levers 29 and\machine frame is an arm 65 provided at 30, pivoted respectively at 31 and 32 upon the 'part 28 which part is iixed to or integral with the wheel 23. Upon the outer ends, respectively, of the levers 29 and 30are Aweights 33 and 34. The inner ends of the bent levers 29 and 30 -are contiguous to and encircling losely the 'shaft- 26 and resting loosely in a sea't 36 within the upwardly extending part 28 of the wheel 23'. The shaft 26 is pivotally mounted upon a pointed screwbolt 37 carried in the machine frame, and its upper end is'engaged by a similar pointed screw-bolt3-8 carried in the frame piece 39. rl`hus, when the wheel 23 begins to rotate, vand as it gains speed, the levers 29 and 30 rotate therewith and the weights 33 and" 34 move outwardly, owing to momentum or centrifugal action, and the inner ends of the levers 29 and 30`thereby` being pressed inwardly against the spring collar .35. The collar thus clutches the shaft 26, causing the shaft to rotate.

As 'heretofore indicated, the rod-directing means and the directing means for the cooling water, in accordance with one feature of the invent-ion, are controlled by one device. In the embodiment of this feature of the invention, the main water supply is through a pipe 45 provided at 46 with a two-way valve, said valve discharging in one position in'to the pipe .47 andV in its other posi'tion into the pipe 48. Fixed to the stem 49 of valve 46 is a lever 50, the valve-stem. 49 acting as a pivot for the lever, andI the lever operating the valve. At either endof the lever 50 are pails or tanks 51 and 52 provided respectively with discharge openings 53 in 'their bottoms.V The proportion of the water supply to the discharge openings of the various tanks is such that when water is supplied the tanks fill and remain full, but empty quickly when the supply is cut ofi'.

Extending upwardly from the pipe 47 is pipe 54, its end 55 being in vertical alinement with a pipe 56, thelower end 57 thereof being in alinement with the pail 51. Similarly, a pipe 58 extends upwardly from the pipe 48, its end 59 being in vertical alinement with the pipe 60, the lower end 61 of either end with downwardlyy projecting stops 66 and 467, thus limiting the swinging movement of the arms of the lever 62, and serving also to alinel the valves or deiiectors 63- and 64 with their respective pipes.

Referring more particularly 'to the larrangement of piping for the water iiow for controlling the switch 2 and for cooling the running rod and the reels or -coilers from the pipe 47, a Vpipe 75, connecting with pipe 47, as its discharge end 76 above the pail or tank 15. From the pipe 47 also a pipe 77 runs to 'the water connections 78 for one of the reels or coilers and has a connection 79 to the guides 80 and 81, which direct the rod to said reel or coiler. The guide 80 is formed at 82 to receive the periphery of the wheel 23. y

1n the corresponding arrangement of pipes from the pipe 48, the pipe 85, connecting with pipe 48, has its discharge end 86 above the pail or tank 14. From the pipe 48 also a pipe 87 extends to 'the water connection for the other coiler or reel. A. crosspipe 88 connects also to the guides 89 and 90, which direct or conduct the rods to such second coiler or reel. The guidemember 90, like the guide 82, is shaped to receive the periphery of the wheel 23, as is best shown in Fig. 2.

The manner of operation of the herein iescri'bed mechanism is substantially as folows:

r1`he directing device 2 may be regarded as being alined with the pipe-guide 21, as shown in Fig. 2, at the moment after the end of one rod` has just passed and the end of the next succeeding rod is coming up. The rod runs through the guide 21 and frictionally. engages the periphery of the wheel 23 in the grooves 24.A The wheel 23 begins rotating, and as it is. at this time free on the shaft 26, it rapidly comes up to speed `without in any wise interfering with the running rod. As the speed of the wheel 23 increases the weights 33 and 34 move outwardly, and the inner ends of the members 29! and 30 press against the spring-sleeve or collar 35, clutching the shaft 26 which begins to rotate. The wheel 23 is rotating in a counter-clockwise direction, (Fig. 2), and

llt

when Lthe shaft 26 begins to rotate, deiiector or valve 63 is moved out of line between pipes 55 and 56, and lever 62 is brought to rest against stop 66.

During the run of the preceding rod through guideway 20, the water has been running through pipe 47, and through pipe 77 supplying cooling water to the guides 81, etc., and to the cooling system 78 and filling the tank 15. This tended to throw the switch guide 2 from its position or alinement with the guide 2O in't-o alinement with the guide 21, but so long as the rod was running through the guide 20, it prevented the `switch from moving. Immediately that the rear end of the rod passed the forward end of the switch ide 2, the switch guide, owing to the action of gravity on the tank 15, moved into alinement with the guide 21, as shown in Fig. 2. The forward end of the new rod running in, passed into the guideway 21, and the action of the wheel 23 and the associated parts as described took place.

Prior to the running in of the forward end of the second rod in the guide 21, the water was discharging from'the pipe 55, but the valve or deflector 63 was in position to prevent the water from running through pipe 56 and filling tank 51, which tank was -then in the elevated position (that is, ,the reverse of the position shown in Fig. 1) and pipe 45 was discharging into pipe 47. When the forward end of the rod running through guideway 21 rotated wheel 23 as already described the valve or deflector 63 was swung into the position shownl in Fig. 2. The Water from pipe 55 was thus allowed to pass through pipe 56 and to fill tank 51, which then moved downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1, moving valve 46, and pipe 45 discharged into pipe 48. The cooling water passes from pipe 48 to cool the guides 89 and 90 and into the cooling system 87 for the second coiler. The water is now also flowing through pipe 59, but the valve 64 prevents its filling tank 52 and thereby actuating the valve 46 until the forward end of the next rod enga-ges the wheel 23, rotating it in the other or clockwise direction, when the various operations already described take place, but in the reverse direction.

It will be understood 'that when either arm of lever 62 contacts with one of the stops 66 or 67, thus holding shaft 26 against rotation, the frictional spring clutching device 35 will slip between said shaft and the rotating wheel 23; any drag thus produced, causing a slowing down of the wheel, will obviously result in the inward movement of weights 33 and 34 and thus completely disengage the shaft 26 from said wheel.

From all the foregoing it will vbe underi stood thata mechanism has been. provided embodying the features and objects of invention and the advantages herein set forth,

`bination a source of rod supply,

together with other objects and advantages. It will be further understood that changes may be made from the mechanism shown and described ,within the scope of the accompanying claims` without departing from the rinclples of invention, and without sacri cing its chief advantages What I claim as 'myinvention and desire to secure by Letters Patent isz- 1. rod coiling machine including in combmation a source of rod supply, a plurality of coilers, and lmeans operated by the rod or directing different rods to the different coilers. y

2. rod coiling machine including in combination a source of rod supply, ,a plurality of coilers, and means operated by the running rod for direct-ing different. rods to the different coilers.

3. A rod coiling machine including in combination a source of rod supply, a plurality of coilers, and means operated by the running rod for directing different rods to the different coilers, said directing means including a frictionally operated device with which the rod engages. v

.4. rod coiling machine including in combmation a source of rod supply, a plurality of coilers, and means operated by the runmng rod for directing different rods to the different collers, said directing means including a momentum device operated by the rod.

5. A rod coiling machine including in coma plurality of coilers,. and means operated by the rod for directing different rods to the differentv coilers, said directing means including la grvity operated device controlled by thek ro 6. A rod coiling machine including in com- 105 bination a source of rod supply, a plurality of coilers, and means operated by the running rod for directing diii'erent rods 'to thel different coilers, said directing means in- 'i cluding a momentum device and a gravity 110 operated device controlled by the momen'- tum device.

7. A rod coilingmachine including inl combination a source of rod supply, a plurality of coilers, and means o erated by the 1,15 running rod for directing di erent rods to the di erent coilers, said directing means including a device frictionally operated by the running rod and a momentum device.

8. A rod coiling machine including in 120 combination a source of rod supply, a plurality of coilers, and means operated by the runnin rod for directing different rods to the di erent coilers, said directing means including a device frictionally operated by the 125 running rod and a momentum device and a gravity operatedY device controlled by the momentum device.

9. A rod coiling machine including in combination a source of rod supply, a plu- 130 rality of coilers, and means o erated by the runnin rod for directing di erent rods to the dierent coilers, said directing means including a device frictionally operated by the runnin, rod and a gravity operated device contro led bythe rictionally operated device.

10. A rod coiling machine including in combination2 a source of rod supply, a plurality of coilers, means for directing rods to the different coilers, and means for operating the directing means, including a rotating device engaged bythe running rod.A

11.'A rod coiling machine including in combination, a source of rod supply, a plurality of coilers, means for directing rods to the diiferent coilers, a rotating member, and means for operating said rod directing means including the frictional engagement of the rods with said rotating member.

12. A lrod coiling machine including in combination a source of rod supply, a plurality of coilers and iuid cont-rolled means for directingpdilferent rods to the different coilers.

13. A rod coiling machine including in combination a source of rod supply, a plurality of coilers and iiuid controlled means operated by the rods for directing di'erent rods to the different coilers.

14. A rod coiling machine including in combination a source of rod supply, a-plurality of coilers, cooling means for th respective coilers and means controlled bythe running rods for directing a cooling fluid into the cooling means of the different coilers successively.

15. In a rod coiling machine, a switch for the rods, a Huid control system therefor, and a valve in said system actuated vby the running rod.

16. ln a rod coiling machine, a switch for the rods, and a Huid control system therefor comprising a wheel rotated by the running rod and a valve controlled by the wheel.

17. In a rod coiling machine, a switch for the rods, and a Huid control system therefor comprising a device movable by the running rod and a valve controlled by said movable.

device.

18. In a rod coiling machine, a switch for the rods, and a switch controlling device including a valve actuated by the running rod merece and a water controlled gravity device for movin the switch.

19. n a rod coiling machine, a switch for the rods, and a switch controlling device including a wheel rotated by the running rod and a valve controlled by the Wheel and a Water controlled gravity device for moving the switch.

20. ln a rod coiling machine, a switch for the. rods, and a switch controlling device including a device movable by the running rod and a valve controlled by said movable device and a water controlled gravity device for moving the switch.

21. ln apparatus of the class described,

the combination with means for advancing the combination with means for advancing I successive rods in a common path, of a plurality of rod guiding devices branching from said common path, means for automatically directin successive rods alternately to said gui ing devices, and means for alternately supplying cooling fluid to said guiding devices.

2a. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a plurality of rod guiding devices, of a source of cooling fluid supply, automatic means for directing successive rods alternately to said guiding devices, and automatic means for directing said cooling fluid supply alternately to sai guiding devices.

ln testimony whereof, l have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES W. HAWTHORNE.

Witnesses:

HENRY A. CLARK, G. WAL'roN. 

